Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Ningshougong)

View a tour plan to Tian'an men Square and Forbidden City

This group of buildings was erected in 1689 and was aptly named Ningshougong 'The Palace of Tranquil Longevity'; for it was here that the Emperor Qianlong had intended to live in retirement. The complex was a scaled down replica of the Forbidden City. Following reconstruction in 1772, it was renamed Huangjidian (The Hall of Imperial Supremacy) although the rear hall continued to be known as Ningshougong. Despite his original intentions, Qianlong did not come to live here after all.

Now an exhibition of famous paintings dating from the Jin dynasty to the Qing dynasty is on show in this palace. The halls and adjacent rooms house a collection of more than 100,000 works.

Standing at Huangjimen, the Gate of Imperial Supremacy, look south and you can see The Nine Dragon Screen.

View a tour plan to Tian'an men Square and Forbidden City

Hall of Mental Cultivation

The Meridian Gate

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Hall of Central Harmony

Hall of Preserved Harmony

Huge Stone Carving

Gate of Celestial Purity

Gate of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union

The Exhibition Halls

Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility

Six Western Palaces

Hall for Ancestry Worship

Six Eastern Palaces

Nine Dragon Screen

Hall of Joyful Longevity

Imperial Garden in Forbidden City

Palace of Celestial Purity